One-piece bathing suit



Jan. 17, 1933. T. L.A MAIDA ONE-PIECE BATHING SUIT Filed Oct. 5]., 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l M r d flamaajam Jan. 17, 1933. T. LA MAIDA ONE-PIECE BATHING SUIT Filed Oct. 31, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1720mm LaMaL'da Patented Jan. 17, 1933 PATENT OFFICE THOMAS LA MAIDA, OF UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OHIO ONE-PIECE BATI-IING SUIT Application filed October 31, 1932. Serial No. 640,522.

This invention relates to bathing suits, and more particularly to bathing suits of onegarment type; and it is among the objects of the invention to provide a construction which is light and comfortable while providing full coverage, and which makes important savings and advantages in manufacturing. Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim, the following description and the an- 1 nexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view with a portion broken away at the right of the center line; Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are elevational views of blanks employed in the assembly; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the blank of Fig. 5 in a further stage of assembly; Fig.

, 7 is a perspective view, parts being broken away, showing a further stage of assembly;

Fig. 8 is a similar view of a modification; Fig. 9 is a like View of a completed garment; and Fig. 10 is a similar view of a modification.

In its general appearance, a bathing suit in apcordance with the present invention has the aspects of a garment extending from the shoulders down over the thighs in continuous shirt-like or blouse-like form extending below the bifurcation of the body and providing concealed trunks. A shoulder-thigh or shirt-like garment foundation is first prepared and this may be made up of any usual or preferred fabric, woven or knitted, most usually knitted, and seamed as most convenient, the whole providing shoulder pieces 2 and body portion proper 3. 7

As shown in Fig. 3, a convenient shaping of the blanks to enter into the garment may involve a blank A of general form to provide the shoulder pieces 8, and lower wing-portions '10, w. Theco-acting blank K is also provided, such that the edge portion ar-b may be seamed to the corresponding edge portion c-cZ of the blank K, the edge portion e-f seamed to the edge portion cZ-g. The edge portion 6-71. is seamed to the edge portion bz', and the edge portion hj is seamed to the edge 70Z, and the edge vl-m to the edge Z-n. This forms a garment having shoulder straps above and trunk portions below, the same lines being shown in detail in Fig. 7 By also assembling a front and back cover segment M, Fig. 4, a garment as illustrated complete in Fig. 1 results, in which the trunk portions, although formed of co-acting blanks in which blank edges directed rearwardly and blank edges directed forwardly are joined together at a point between the legs to form downwardly extending seams medially for each leg in the inter-leg trunk walls and concealed within a shirt-like or blouse like exterior appearance. I

In a slightly different procedure, the shirtlike foundation garment may be made up,

and within the lower portion of such foundation garment I then apply, securing by sewing or other desired means, inserts'F and R at the front and rear. As shown in Fig. 5,

such inserts may be formed from a blank B which has a continuous lower edge 4, and a notch n in its upper edge. This blank is fastened together along its edges 5, 6, thus forming the seam 56 in Fig. 6, and it is also out along the dotted line 7 (Fig. 5) to pro vide the free edges 8, 9, Fig. 6. The further steps of assembly involve the seaming together of the corresponding edges 8, and the corresponding edges 9, respectively, of the front and rear blank portions, also the securing of the outer edges 10, 11, to the cor responding Wall of the shirt-like founda tion. The final seams 88, 99, 10, 11, 10",

11", assemble the form of the garment. In the form shown in Fig. 8, the insert front and rear blanks F, R, are seamed directly to the front and rear walls respectively of the shirt-like foundation garment, the inserts being invisible externally, and having their coacting rearwardly directed edges and forwardly directed edges joined together at a point between the legs to form downwardly extending seams medially for each leg, complating inter-leg portions or close fitting trunks with the coacting outside shirt-like walls, the complete garment being shown also in Fig. 1.

and trunk portions, the bifurcation of said trunk portion being covered front and rear, close crotch forming portions attached to said trunk portion at the front and rear thereof,

and openings being seamed together in a sin 1e seam. y i V igned by me this 29th, day of October,

' g H rnoMiis LA MAIDA.

In cases desired, I may also assemble out-- side front and rear face-pieces. or finishpieces M, these being seamed or attached to the edgeslO, 11, ofthe inserts F, R, and like wise to edges correspondingly positioned'in the foundation garment 3, cut-outs therein having been provided for this purpose. In thefinal assembly of this form, the facingwith the foundation garment 3, as indicated in Fig. 10, and along the seam lines also with the edge 11, forming the compound seam 11',

and so on throughout, the center seams pieces Min front and behind, are edge-joined V acter, although attained very advantageously V i v by reason of its elements of assembly. On

vthe other hand, where some variation in appearance is desired, by employing a contrast-, ing material for the face-pieces M, theefiect ma be correspondingly varied. v

t is thus seen that the invention provides i a garment of comfortable and advantageous form, aesthetic in appearance,'and highly advantageous in manufacture, permitting considerable speed in operation and without undue requirement of skill, and finally very fltimportant savings in the material are possib e by reason of the forms of elements involved. a I 7 Other modes of applying the principle of the inventionemay be employed, change being made as regards the details described,'provided the features stated in the. following claim, or the equivalent of such, be employed,

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention: 7 l

A bathing suit, comprising connected 

